COPYING A CD BEFORE REPLACING IT

QUESTION 83: COPYING A CD BEFORE REPLACING IT

I borrowed a CD from a friend and lost it. I'm now
going to buy the same title, in order to 'give back'
the CD to him, to replace the one I lost. Before I
give him the replacement CD, can I make a copy for
myself?

RABBI BELSKY

If you borrowed something and then lost it, you
are required to pay the person to replace the item.
That means that the new CD - the one you bought as
a replacement - was really your friend's from the
very beginning. Therefore, if you buy the replacement -
and copy it before giving it to him - then this situation
is exactly the same as if you borrowed your friend's
CD and copied it, which cannot be done. In effect,
instead of buying your own CD, you're copying your
friend's, and you're cutting into the business of
the producer. You lost the CD that you borrowed, and
now you are buying a CD to pay him back. So now the
CD you're considering copying in effect belongs to him.

NEXT WEEK'S QUESTION 84: MAKING COPY OF CD FOR SPOUSE

I bought a CD that I listen to in my car. Can I make
a copy so my wife can listen to it in her car also?

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